Gtjire



(No Model.)

A. B. MAGUIRE. STEP LADDER.

No. 586,341 Patented Jul 13, 1897.

F'IE.3.

FIE.

FIB.

wfwzwoza M/ Home iffii "JZW. ra

m: nouns mews co. PNOTO-LITNQ. wwmsmn, a c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT BURNHAM MAGUIRE, OF STRATFORD, CANADA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,341, dated July 13,1897.

Application filed January 18, 1897. Serial No, 619,644. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT BURNHAM MA- GUIRE, a citizen of Canada,residing at Stratford, in the county of Perth and Province of Ontario,Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inStep-Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to step-ladders and it consists in the novelconstruction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of the step-ladder. Fig. 2 is afront View, and Fig. 3 is a rear view. Figs. 4: and 5 are detail viewsof one of the brackets which support the steps. Fig. 6 is a detail sideview of one of the devices for adjusting the tension of the truss-wires.

A are the two front legs, having serrated brackets a secured to theirlower ends to prevent them from slipping.

B is a hinge-bracket secured to the top of each leg A.

G are the steps of the ladder, secured to brackets O, which in turn aresecured to the front legs A.

D are bolts or pins which project laterally from the brackets a and B. Eare the bridges, secured to the middle portions of the legs A. Trussesb, of twisted wire, are provided and are looped over the bolts D andspread apart by the bridges E. Each trussis provided with one or moregrooved blocks e. Each block is rectangular in cross-section, so that itcan be revolved by means of a wrench. The ends of the twisted wireswhich form the trusses are secured in the grooves e of the blocks 6, andthe tension of the trusses is adjusted by turning the twisted wires.

The back legs F are pivoted at their upper ends to the bracket 13 in anyapproved manner. A brace f extends crosswise between the legs F at aboutthe middle of their length,

and a brace f extends crosswise between the said legs near theirbottoms. Cross-braces g are arranged diagonally between the end portionsof the braces f and f. The upper part between the legs F is left open,so that a board can be passed between the legs and rest on either of thetwo steps which come next below the top step. The legs are held in theirextended position by means of a bail h, the ends of which are pivoted tothe front legs. The loop of the bail passes around the rear legs andrests upon the brace f when the legs are spread out. The bail is raisedwhen the legs are folded.

Step-ladders made according to this invention are very light and rigid.They cannot slip, spread, or warp, and they are very cheaplyconstructed.

What I claim is- 1. In a step-ladder, the combination, with the frontlegs provided with steps, and lateral projections at the end portions ofthe said legs; of bridges secured to the middle portions of the saidlegs and projecting above and below them, continuous-wire trusses havingtheir end portions looped over and slidable on the said projections andhaving their middle portions carried by the said bridges, and awire-tightening device connecting the end portions of each saidcontinuous-wire truss, substantially as set forth.

2. In a step-ladder, the combination, with the front legs provided withsteps, and lateral projections at the end portions of the said legs; ofbridges secured to the middle portions of the said legs, trusses oftwisted Wires carried by the said projections and bridges, and groovedrectangular blocks having the ends of the trusses secured to them andaffording a means for tightening the trusses by twisting the wires,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ALBERT BURNHAM MAGUIRE.

\Vitnesses: I

N. F. HARDING, J ENNIE MEGAB.

